What is your plan for off season? You'll need a solid marketing plan for that time. You need to work on the name a bit....
There really is no off season in Southern Ca. When I was planning weddings I was busy year round. I have lots of ideas for the middle of the week. A couple friends are freelance yoga instructors looking for morning spaces to practice. I have a mommy and me group that is always looking for locations to have workshops. There are a ton of possibilities for the use of the space.
Also FB posts on my city's local community page go like this: "where can I host a bridal shower/baby shower/tea party/birthday party for 40ppl without being forced to use their vendors."
The 60 replies that follow either recommend the person to spend $1000 at the nicest clubhouse in town/community center, have it at a restaurant, or send them out of the city. No options out here as zeebride vouched for me earlier.
I definitely don't want to sound cutesy. Simple is best for sure but my main market IS women so there needs to be a feminine element there.
I totally get that your "main market" at the outset is going to be women, but all the names you listed up there ^^^ scream bridal shower (or kiddie party) to me. If that's where you want to stay, great, but I think you need to stick to a name that businesses will want to have their holiday parties and offsite meetings at, too. How about something like "256 Main" (assuming your spot is located at 256 Main Street. Otherwise that'd be a stupid name.) good luck with your venture!
What is your daughter's birthday? Can you incorporate those numbers into it like the Lounge 1023 example above?
I'm pretty sure I wouldn't call a place with "Lounge" in its name for a kids's party, and probably wouldn't for a baby shower, either. When I think lounge I think carpet that smells like beer and 50 year old women in too tight dresses.
I think your idea has potential but needs to be fleshed out a little more.
Nothing to add on the name that hasn't been said other than agreeing that going neutral is better than cutesy. I also agree that thinking about how the name would look on an invite for the types of events you are hoping to attract is a good way to go.
I also wanted to add that while you don't want to require anyone to use specific vendors, have a list available since most people will have no idea who to contact for bar tending or catering or serving since all you are providing is the space/linens/tables (would you also provide things like tea lights, glassware, plates, silverware?). Especially if you will be targeting after work corporate networking events and the like since they will likely want staff on hand to take care of all that and won't be bringing their own food and doing the self serve thing (like you would run into for a baby or bridal shower or birthday party.)
Also, look at insurance requirements if you are allowing people to serve booze. While you are not providing it, you are providing the space and may have some liability. I remember when I was doing corporate event planning for my employer, when we had an event in a "blank" space we had to both make sure they were insured and then get our own policy if we were serving alcohol.
I think your idea has potential but needs to be fleshed out a little more.
Nothing to add on the name that hasn't been said other than agreeing that going neutral is better than cutesy. I also agree that thinking about how the name would look on an invite for the types of events you are hoping to attract is a good way to go.
I also wanted to add that while you don't want to require anyone to use specific vendors, have a list available since most people will have no idea who to contact for bar tending or catering or serving since all you are providing is the space/linens/tables (would you also provide things like tea lights, glassware, plates, silverware?). Especially if you will be targeting after work corporate networking events and the like since they will likely want staff on hand to take care of all that and won't be bringing their own food and doing the self serve thing (like you would run into for a baby or bridal shower or birthday party.)
Also, look at insurance requirements if you are allowing people to serve booze. While you are not providing it, you are providing the space and may have some liability. I remember when I was doing corporate event planning for my employer, when we had an event in a "blank" space we had to both make sure they were insured and then get our own policy if we were serving alcohol.
Yes, all good points. I do already have a referral book created for that reason. I was in the industry for a long time and have kept great local contacts and that is part of the upgrade in service I was talking about earlier. I do not plan on leaving that opportunity on the table. This is actually part of where a good chunk of revenue will come from. I already have a local florist that I know that offered to keep a FREE fresh arrangement in my store front for her own advertising.
As far as the insurance goes I do have an agent looking into that for me now. She is also looking into the city's restrictions as far as how late events can go, alcohol etc. BTW, bringing alcohol in will come with a raise in hourly fee. I have a great team set up and there is already a ton of work being done on the back end for that.
The only part of this venture that is BLANK to me is the name. This has been a dream of mine for a long time and I feel like I can finally move on it now that my kids are easier to handle.
You're not asking for my advice, but if you're going to be going through the hassle of having actual overhead, insurance, pay salaries, etc - you really need to reconsider the 8pm thing. Sure, if you're a personal contractor and can choose your own hours, that's one thing. But when you have a space like that, I think it would be irresponsible to not fully explore the potential harm that those hours may do to your business.
I understand where you are coming from. I think I MAY increase the hours on Fridays & Saturdays to maybe 10m but until I know the city's restrictions I realize I may be left with early hour events and I am ok with that.
What about The Tea Room? This gets across your intent that it be small, cozy, not boozy and closed early.
If you're going to allow booze at all, have you looked into licensing requirements?
This is the biggest grey area that I am having right now. I can't seem to get an answer out of anyone through my city council. And this absolutely matters A TON. If guests cannot bring in champagne or wine then this idea is not happening. I do not want it to be a completely dry place.
This is the biggest grey area that I am having right now. I can't seem to get an answer out of anyone through my city council. And this absolutely matters A TON. If guests cannot bring in champagne or wine then this idea is not happening. I do not want it to be a completely dry place.
What state are you in again? I know a little bit about local CA liquor laws.
I sent you a PM with my city name but I am in Southern CA. Any info would be awesome.
I don't have much advice on the name, but agree with PPs that I think you need to look into being open past 8. Lots of birthday parties, corporate events, wine and paint parties, etc. that you say you want to host will go later than that.
You also said you have no interest in doing weddings there. What if you are approached by someone who wants to have a small wedding that would fit in with your capacity limit? What if someone contacts you about an afternoon or daytime wedding? You will most likely get a LOT of calls about weddings.
I do think having a space like you are describing is a useful thing in any community, but I would really reconsider the 8 PM closing time and talk to the city about how late you can stay open. And also realize (as I'm sure you do, having worked in the industry) that a space like that would be perfect for wedding receptions, and I think you'll get a lot of inquiries about those.
This is going to sound terrible, but weddings are emotionally exhausting. They would drain so much more of my time and resources. Between space planning and layout, multiple vendor walk thrus, extra demands. Simply put, there is so much more of a time suck in catering to a "once in a lifetime" event like this. The contracts are heavier. The communication is constant. I LOVED all my brides as their wedding planner but as an event space, I don't want to get into all those details.
My vision for this space was not weddings, but simple small shin-digs.
It reminds me of a wedding I day-of coordinated in Malibu at this small community hall. This bride was paying $60/hr to rent this place. The woman that ran it was exhausted by the time we were done with the last minute demands. The venue made $480 for the whole event but this woman worked her tail off for this bride for the past 8 months. I just don't want this to turn into that.
ETA: I realize I didn't answer your question. If I were approached to have a wedding there, I would require that they hire a planner to facilitate it.
Post by speckledfrog on Oct 1, 2014 17:54:48 GMT -5
I think it's fine to not want to do weddings. You can always add them in later, if you want. Or charge enough more for them that people won't book any with you.